30 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

The stories of Eve Duncan were taut and riveting at first, but now I think it's time she found her daughter's remains so she can move on and become a forensic detective who isn't haunted by the past. This book seems to set the stage for that, bringing in a new character who will surely reappear in future books, Montalvo. This book was pretty good, and the final 70 or so pages were riveting.

I've been a long-time fan of Iris Johansen, especially the Eve Duncan series. Although STALEMATE is decidedly different from the other stories starring Eve Duncan from the past, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it--so much so that I stayed up until 3am to finish the book.

Yes, the Eve in this story isn't the saintly, never-do-anything-wrong Eve that many readers have come to know and love. She becomes attracted to a bad guy who, at least in the beginning of the story, is the mother of all bad guys. Montalvo, however, isn't what he appears to be--just, as it would turn out, the same way that solid, ever-steady Eve isn't just the pushover we've always thought her to be.

The action in this story is non-stop, with a great appearance by Galen (one of my favorite characters of all-time) and with a great new character, 19-year-old Miguel. Montalvo, I'll admit, is a very, very appealing character; whether he's being a bad guy who seems to kill without compunction or a sensitive man who lost his wife to a drug lord, you can't help but find yourself drawn to him.

I, for one, am hoping that Ms. Johansen brings Montalvo back for more stories. Whether or not Eve and Joe (who, by the way, acted like a giant, ego-bruised baby throughout most of this story) can get their relationship back on track, or whether Eve will allow her attraction to Montalvo to grow, we'll have to wait and see.

But STALEMATE is definitely not a disappointing read. Kudos to Ms. Johansen for bringing back an Eve Duncan who actually started to act like a real, fallible human being, instead of a perfect, wounded princess.

While I usually enjoy the Eve Duncan books I felt like this book was missing something. The search for Bonnie seems to be getting overly drawn out. I think it's time for that chapter of Eves life to be put to rest so Johansen can further develop her character beyond just being driven by the search for her daughter.

While the story was interesting..I felt that it wasn't quite as riveting as her earlier Eve Duncan books. I found myself wanting to get to the end just so I could move on to another book. A decent book overall but I wouldn't say it was one of Johansens best.

Iris Johansen is the kind of author that never fails to keep the story moving quickly, with unexpected twists and turns that makes the reader reluctant to put the book down! I am always pleased to see a book by Johansen that I haven't already read, and this book is as good as any of her previous novels.

Johansen introduces a new character in this book, Montalvo. He has a dangerous reputation as a weapons dealer in the Columbian jungle. She refuses him, twice, but he promises her Bonny. She goes to Columbia, and Joe follows her, bringing Galen. Eve finds herself attracted to Montalvo, and he definitely wants her. I love the way Johansen weaves our old favorite characters in with new ones. Great read.

This book moved at a crawl. Lots of head games being played - not much of anything happening. A side note about the actress on this audiobook: She does a great Russian accent. Too bad she assigns it to characters who are Columbian.

Eve Duncan is a forensic sculptor who is requested to do a reconstruction for a gun runner in Colombia, and only accepts his request when he offers to release a man he's about to kill. But he also offers her something she hasn't been able to discover, and that's to find the person who killed her daughter. Great thriller with action and suspense thoughout the book.

I've been a long-time fan of Iris Johansen, especially the Eve Duncan series. Although STALEMATE is decidedly different from the other stories starring Eve Duncan from the past, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it--so much so that I stayed up until 3am to finish the book.

Yes, the Eve in this story isn't the saintly, never-do-anything-wrong Eve that many readers have come to know and love. She becomes attracted to a bad guy who, at least in the beginning of the story, is the mother of all bad guys. Montalvo, however, isn't what he appears to be--just, as it would turn out, the same way that solid, ever-steady Eve isn't just the pushover we've always thought her to be.

The action in this story is non-stop, with a great appearance by Galen (one of my favorite characters of all-time) and with a great new character, 19-year-old Miguel. Montalvo, I'll admit, is a very, very appealing character; whether he's being a bad guy who seems to kill without compunction or a sensitive man who lost his wife to a drug lord, you can't help but find yourself drawn to him.

I, for one, am hoping that Ms. Johansen brings Montalvo back for more stories. Whether or not Eve and Joe (who, by the way, acted like a giant, ego-bruised baby throughout most of this story) can get their relationship back on track, or whether Eve will allow her attraction to Montalvo to grow, we'll have to wait and see.

But STALEMATE is definitely not a disappointing read. Kudos to Ms. Johansen for bringing back an Eve Duncan who actually started to act like a real, fallible human being, instead of a perfect, wounded princess.

Not one of I. Johansen's better books. Nice to read about familiar characters though. Got the feeling while reading that the author is setting up some behind the scene work for future books about these characters. Would definetely recommend reading anyway to stay up to date on the characters.

Pandora's Daughter & Stalemate are so similar to her other books I had to keep checking if I had already read it. I love recurring characters but would like different stories. She is putting the same scenes in her books again & again. How many times can she have a male character tell a female how how hot he is for her and how much he wants her as the world around them is chaotic? I put down PD a third of the way through it because it was as if I had read it already, just as Stalemate was the same story again. I won't be in a hurry to pick her books up unless they're at a library sale cheap. Too costly to buy a book you've "already read" and put it down.

A Colombian crime lord gives Eve an offer she can't turn down; help him by doing a reconstruction, & he'll help her find out what happened to Bonnie; an offer he goes to great length to prove he can fulfill.

I liked the book because they made the crime lord more than just a 2-bit criminal. He had depth, & morals & ethics. He may have been in a nasty business, but as they wind up with a common foe, he becomes neither black nor white, but another shade of gray that you find in life.

The only thing I didn't like was Joe's attitude in this book. Usually, I love how he supports her & is so into her. In this book, it seemed like he put his ego before everything else, & his heavy-handed demands were a real turn-off. Eve was aware of what she was risking, but she'd weighed it against the rewards, & deemed it worthwhile. Joe's threats to knock her out & force her back home where he could sit on her just smacked of too-controlling, too high-handed...& instead of putting him in a time-out zone, she was empathizing with his feelings. Fans of their romance & of Joe's heroic actions may be more willing to give him extra rope, but I personally was really disappointed in him in this book.

Overall, it's a book I'm glad I took the time to read, &, it hints that the crime lord will make an appearance in further stories, so...I think I'll continue reading.

Eve Duncan turns down a skull reconstruction job offered by one of the world's most wanted men, Luis Montalvo. Until he offers her something she can't refuse: the identity of her daughter's killer. Against her long time lover and Atlanta detective Joe Quinn, Eve accepts the job. Determined to return her to safey, Joe follows her to the Montalvo's compound in the Columbian jungle. But Montalvo has enemies who do not want Eve to do the reconstruction and want Montalvo dead. Caught in the middle of intrigues and dangerous warlords,, Eve finds herself inexplicably drawn to Montalvo on a personal level, complicating her relationship with Joe. Her choices will change lives forever--but can Montalvo deliver what he's promised?